Derek Dimke

Derek Dimke (born April 16, 1990)[1] is an American football placekicker who is currently a free agent. Dimke played college football at the University of Illinois, where he broke several school records. He was signed by the Detroit Lions in 2012.

Derek Dimke
Personal information
Born: (1990-04-16) April 16, 1990
Rockford, Illinois
Height:6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Weight:180 lb (82 kg)
Career information
High school:Boylan Catholic
(Rockford, Illinois)
College:Illinois
Position:Placekicker
Undrafted:2012
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Career NFL statistics
Player stats at NFL.com

Early years

Dimke was born in Rockford, Illinois to Tim, a director within the Rockford Park District, and Debra, a school administrator.[2]

Dimke attended Boylan Catholic High School in Rockford, Illinois.[1] He was selected second-team All-State by the Chicago Tribune[3] and was also a special mention All-State selection by the Champaign News-Gazette.[1] He set an Illinois high school record when he kicked a 54-yard field goal during the playoffs his senior year.[4]

College career

Dimke was a four-year letterman at the University of Illinois. During his college career, he made 39 of 46 field goals for a field goal percentage of 84.7%. He also went 89 for 89 on extra point attempts, for a combined field goal and extra point percentage of 94.8%. He is the most accurate kicker in Fighting Illini history. He holds several other school records including most points scored in a season by a kicker, most field goals in a season, most field goals in a bowl game, most consecutive PATs made, and most touchbacks in a single game.[5] Dimke ranks 6th on the Fighting Illini football career scoring list, and 2nd on the single season scoring list. In his junior season, he was a semifinalist for the Lou Groza Award.[6] He led the Big Ten in both field goals per game and touchbacks. He was selected to Phil Steele's first-team All-Big Ten team following the conclusion of his Junior season.[7] He was selected to the Second-team All-Big Ten by the coaches.[8] He also was an Honorable Mention All-Big Ten selection by the media.[1]

Dimke named to the ESPN All-Big Ten Bowl Team for his performance in the 2010 Texas Bowl. In his senior season, he was selected to the Lou Groza Award Preseason Watch List.[9][10] Dimke led the Fighting Illini in scoring during the 2011 season. During his senior year, he also was an Honorable Mention All-Big Ten selection by coaches & media.[11] He was an Academic All-Big Ten honoree in 2009, 2010, and 2011.[1] He was named Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week three times (11/30/09), (10/11/10), and (9/26/11) while at Illinois.[1] Following his senior season, he was invited to the NFL Combine.

Professional career

Detroit Lions

On April 30, 2012, Dimke signed with the Detroit Lions.[12] He went 2 for 2 on field goals during the preseason while battling Jason Hanson for the starting role.[13] On August 27, 2012, he was released.[14]

New York Jets

Dimke signed with the New York Jets on April 11, 2013.[15] He was released on May 12, 2013.[16]

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Dimke was signed by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on June 4, 2013. During his time there he went 6 for 7 on field goals while battling Lawrence Tynes and Rian Lindell for the starting role.[17] He was later cut on August 31, 2013.[18]

New Orleans Saints

Dimke was signed by the New Orleans Saints to a futures contract on January 2, 2014.[19] Dimke went 4 for 4 with a long of 49 yards. Dimke along with kicker Shayne Graham were released as part of the final roster cuts on August 30, 2014.[20]

Jacksonville Jaguars

On January 5, 2015, the Jacksonville Jaguars signed Dimke to a reserve/future contract.[21]

He was released on May 11, 2015.[22]

Personal life

Dimke graduated with a degree in finance in 2012.

References
  1. "Illinois Fighting Illini Profile". fightingillini.com. Archived from the original on April 11, 2013.
  2. Supinie, John (August 27, 2010). "Hard work paying off for Illinois kicker Derek Dimke". The State Journal-Register. Retrieved June 29, 2022.
  3. "Chicago Tribune Names Derek Dimke to All-State 2nd Team". wifr.com. Retrieved November 30, 2007.
  4. "Bears overcome 54-yard FG, upset Titans - Chicago Tribune". articles.chicagotribune.com. Archived from the original on May 2, 2014.
  5. "FIGHTINGILLINI.COM - Derek Dimke Profile". Archived from the original on April 11, 2013. Retrieved April 12, 2013.
  6. "Big Ten Announces 2010 Football All-Conference Teams and Individual Honors". bigten.org. Archived from the original on December 22, 2010.
  7. "Seven Illini Named to Phil Steele's All-Big Ten Teams". fightingillini.com. Archived from the original on May 2, 2014. Retrieved December 2, 2010.
  8. "Dimke Makes All-Big Ten Team". mystateline.com. Archived from the original on June 29, 2013. Retrieved November 30, 2010.
  9. "Lou Groza Award preseason watch list". sportingnews.com. Retrieved July 12, 2011.
  10. "Ex-Boylan standout Derek Dimke on Lou Groza Award list". rrstar.com. Retrieved July 8, 2011.
  11. "Ex-Boylan standout Derek Dimke on Lou Groza Award list". bigten.org. Archived from the original on December 22, 2010. Retrieved July 8, 2011.
  12. "Detroit Lions sign seven more undrafted free agents, including Wayne State's Troy Burrell". mlive.com. April 30, 2012. Retrieved April 30, 2012.
  13. http://www.wrex.com/story/19388010/lions-cut-dimke
  14. "Hanson will be Lions kicker in 2012 with expected release of Derek Dimke". detroitlions.com. Retrieved August 27, 2012.
  15. Orr, Conor (April 11, 2013). "Jets sign free agent K Derek Dimke". The Star-Ledger. Archived from the original on December 3, 2013. Retrieved April 16, 2013.
  16. Jets Staff (May 12, 2013). "4 Tryouts Signed, 3 Undrafted FAs Released". New York Jets. Archived from the original on June 7, 2013. Retrieved May 12, 2013.
  17. "Bucs' Derek Dimke took advantage of opportunity in opener". August 9, 2013.
  18. "Bucs Add Kicker Dimke, Waive TE Landi". Tampa Bay Buccaneers. June 4, 2013. Archived from the original on June 11, 2013. Retrieved June 4, 2013.
  19. "New Orleans Saints preach balance against Philadelphia Eagles: notebook". The Times-Picayune. January 2, 2014. Retrieved January 14, 2014.
  20. New Orleans Saints trim roster to 53-player limit www.neworleanssaints.com, Retrieved August 30, 2014.
  21. Jaguars make roster moves, sign three players to reserve/future contracts www.firstcoastnews.com, Retrieved January 7, 2015
  22. "Jaguars make roster moves". Jacksonville Jaguars. May 11, 2015. Archived from the original on September 3, 2017. Retrieved May 11, 2015.
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